The North West Development Commission (NWDC) has announced the cancellation of its foreign scholarship programme, following a new directive from the Federal Government prioritising investment in local education.
In a statement released on Thursday, the commission said the decision was made in line with recent guidance from the Federal Ministry of Education, which urged government agencies to redirect educational development funds toward strengthening Nigeria’s domestic educational capacity.
“In line with the federal government’s recent directive to prioritise local education in Nigeria, the North West Development Commission announces the cancellation of applications for foreign scholarships,” the statement read.
The policy change comes just days after reports of an internal crisis within the NWDC, allegedly tied to disagreements over the structure and management of the scholarship scheme.
On Wednesday, May 7, the Federal Ministry of Education issued a circular—signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade—ordering federal and regional institutions to suspend funding for overseas educational initiatives. The circular called for such resources to be channelled into improving schools, teacher training, and educational infrastructure across the country.
“The Ministry is committed to building indigenous educational capacity, and as such, all programmes involving foreign education funding should be reviewed or suspended in favour of local alternatives,” the ministry said.
In response, the NWDC reaffirmed its commitment to human capital development in the North West and promised to unveil new education-focused initiatives that align with national goals.
“We remain dedicated to our core mandate of human capital development in the North West and will be announcing new local education-focused programmes in due course,” the commission said.
The move signals a broader shift in federal policy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign education while enhancing access and quality within Nigeria’s own academic institutions.
